U.S. patent application number 13/016024 was filed with the patent office on 2011-08-11 for ice making method and ice making device.
This patent application is currently assigned to NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Katsuhiko HAYASHI, Hiroki KURATANI, Shigeru OZAWA.
Application Number | 20110192175 13/016024 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44352606 |
Filed Date | 2011-08-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110192175 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KURATANI; Hiroki ; et
al. |
August 11, 2011 |
ICE MAKING METHOD AND ICE MAKING DEVICE
Abstract
An ice making method and device may include an ice making member
inserting step in which an ice making member is inserted into water
that is stored in an ice tray, an ice pieces making step in which
the ice making member is cooled so that the water is frozen to form
an ice pieces, an ice making member heating step in which the ice
making member is heated so that a portion of the ice pieces
sticking to the ice making member is melted, an ice making member
drawing-out step in which the ice making member is drawn out from
the ice pieces, and an ice pieces separating step in which the ice
tray is deformed to separate the ice pieces from the ice tray. The
ice pieces separating step and the ice pieces storing step are
performed at positions under the ice making member.
Inventors: |
KURATANI; Hiroki; (Nagano,
JP) ; HAYASHI; Katsuhiko; (Nagano, JP) ;
OZAWA; Shigeru; (Nagano, JP) |
Assignee: |
NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
Nagano
JP
|
Family ID: |
44352606 |
Appl. No.: |
13/016024 |
Filed: |
January 28, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/72 ;
62/349 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25C 2305/022 20130101;
F25C 5/06 20130101; F25C 1/08 20130101; F25C 5/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/72 ;
62/349 |
International
Class: |
F25C 5/06 20060101
F25C005/06; F25C 5/08 20060101 F25C005/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 29, 2010 |
JP |
2010-017731 |
Claims
1. An ice making method comprising: inserting an ice making member
into water that is stored in an ice tray; cooling the ice making
member so that the water stored in the ice tray is frozen to form
at least one or more ice pieces; heating the ice making member so
that a portion of the ice pieces sticking to the ice making member
is melted; drawing-out the ice making member from the ice pieces;
and deforming the ice tray to separate the ice pieces from the ice
tray.
2. The ice making method according to claim 1, wherein in the ice
making member drawing-out step, the ice tray is moved relatively
downward with respect to the ice making member and the ice making
member is drawn out upward from the ice pieces, and the ice pieces
separating step is performed at a position located under the ice
making member.
3. The ice making method according to claim 2, wherein in the ice
pieces separating step, a reversing operation in which the ice tray
is reversed from an upward state to a downward state and a
deforming operation in which the ice tray is deformed are performed
in a parallel manner.
4. The ice making method according to claim 3, wherein in the
reversing operation, the ice tray is reversed from the upward state
where an upper face opening of the ice tray is located on an upper
side with respect to a bottom of the ice tray to the downward state
where the upper face opening of the ice tray is located on an under
side with respect to the bottom of the ice tray, and in the
deforming operation, the ice tray is deformed during the reversing
operation from a vertical state where the upper face opening of the
ice tray is in a vertical state to the downward state.
5. The ice making method according to claim 3, wherein guide plates
in which guide grooves for guiding movement of the ice tray are
respectively formed are provided on both sides of the ice tray, the
guide grooves which are formed in the guide plates are respectively
provided with a straight shaped guide groove portion that is
extended in a straight line shape in an upper and lower direction
and a curved guide groove portion that is continuously formed from
a lower end of the straight shaped guide groove portion so as to be
curved downward in a convex shape, termination end portions of the
curved guide groove portions in the guide plates are set to be at
vertically offset positions each other, in the ice making member
drawing-out step, an ice making member drawing-out operation is
performed in which the ice making member is drawn out from the ice
pieces when the ice tray is moved downward along the straight
shaped guide groove portion, and in the ice pieces separating step,
while performing the reversing operation where the ice tray is
reversed from the upward state to the downward state when the ice
tray is moved along the curved guide groove portions from the
straight shaped guide groove portions, a deforming operation is
performed in which the ice tray is twisted and deformed when the
ice tray is moved along the termination end portions of the curved
guide groove portions.
6. The ice making method according to claim 5, wherein two pins are
provided in a separated manner on a side face portion of the ice
tray, the ice making member drawing-out operation is performed by
means of that the two pins separated from each other are moved
along the straight shaped guide groove portion which is provided in
the guide plate, and the reversing operation and the deforming
operation are performed when the two pins are moved along the
curved guide groove portion.
7. The ice making method according to claim 3, wherein guide plates
in which guide grooves for guiding movement of the ice tray are
respectively formed are provided on both sides of the ice tray, the
guide grooves which are formed in the guide plates are respectively
provided with a straight shaped guide groove portion that is
extended in a straight line shape in an upper and lower direction
and a curved guide groove portion that is continuously formed from
a lower end of the straight shaped guide groove portion so as to be
curved downward in a convex shape, a pushing member is provided
which is turnably supported around a predetermined turning center
axial line and pressed against the ice tray for deforming the ice
tray, in the ice making member drawing-out step, an ice making
member drawing-out operation is performed in which the ice making
member is drawn out from the ice pieces when the ice tray is moved
downward along the straight shaped guide groove portion, and in the
ice pieces separating step, a reversing operation is performed in
which the ice tray is reversed from the upward state to the
downward state when the ice tray is moved along the curved guide
groove portions from the straight shaped guide groove portions, and
a deforming operation in which the ice tray is deformed by the
pushing member is performed when the ice tray is moved along the
termination end portions of the curved guide groove portions.
8. The ice making method according to claim 7, wherein two pins are
provided in a separated manner on a side face portion of the ice
tray, the ice making member drawing-out operation is performed when
the two pins separated from each other are moved along the straight
shaped guide groove portion which is provided in the guide plate,
and the reversing operation and the deforming operation are
performed when the two pins are moved along the curved guide groove
portion.
9. The ice making method according to claim 2, wherein in the ice
pieces separating step, a deforming operation is performed in which
the ice tray in an upward state is deformed.
10. The ice making method according to claim 9, wherein guide
plates in which guide grooves for guiding movement of the ice tray
are respectively formed are provided on both sides of the ice tray,
the guide grooves which are provided in the guide plates are
provided with a straight shaped guide groove portion that is
extended in a straight line shape in an upper and lower direction,
a pushing member is provided which is turnably supported around a
predetermined turning center axial line and pressed against the ice
tray for deforming the ice tray, in the ice making member
drawing-out step, an ice making member drawing-out operation in
which the ice making member is drawn out from the ice pieces when
the ice tray is moved downward along the straight shaped guide
groove portion, in the ice pieces separating step, a deforming
operation is performed in which the ice tray is pressed against the
pushing member to be deformed when the ice tray is further moved
downward along the straight shaped guide groove portion, and in the
ice pieces storing step, a reversing operation is performed in
which the ice tray having been deformed by being pressed against
the pushing member is reversed from the upward state to the
downward state when the pushing member is turned.
11. The ice making method according to claim 1, wherein each of at
least a plurality of storing parts for storing the water which
structures the ice tray is formed of rubber material which is
capable of being elastically deformed.
12. The ice making method according to claim 11, wherein the rubber
material is one of silicone rubber and fluororubber.
13. An ice making device comprising: an ice tray which is provided
with a plurality of storing parts for storing water, each of the
plurality of the storing parts being formed of material which is
capable of being elastically deformed; an ice making member which
is inserted into the storing parts of the ice tray from an upper
side for freezing the water in the storing parts; an ice making
member heating mechanism for heating the ice making member; an ice
tray moving mechanism which performs an ice making member
drawing-out operation in which the ice making member is drawn out
from the storing parts, a reversing operation in which the ice tray
is reversed from an upward state to a downward state, and a
deforming operation in which the ice tray is deformed, when the ice
tray is moved along a predetermined moving passage; and guide
plates disposed on both sides of the ice tray in which guide
grooves for guiding movement of the ice tray are respectively
formed, and the guide grooves being provided in the guide plates
with at least a straight shaped guide groove portion that is
extended in a straight line shape in an upper and lower direction;
wherein the ice making member drawing-out operation is performed
when the ice tray is moved along the straight shaped guide groove
portion, and the reversing operation and the deforming operation
are performed on an under side with respect to the ice making
member.
14. The ice making device according to claim 13, wherein the guide
groove which is formed in each of the guide plates is provided with
a curved guide groove portion that is continuously formed from a
lower end of the straight shaped guide groove portion so as to be
curved downward in a convex state, termination end portions of the
curved guide groove portions of the guide plates are formed to be
at vertically offset positions each other, a reversing operation is
performed in which the ice tray is reversed from an upward state to
a downward state when the ice tray is moved along the curved guide
groove portions from the straight shaped guide groove portions, and
a deforming operation is performed in which the ice tray is twisted
and deformed when the ice tray is moved along the termination end
portions of the curved guide groove portions.
15. The ice making device according to claim 14, wherein two pins
are provided in a separated manner on a side face portion of the
ice tray, the ice making member drawing-out operation is performed
when the two pins separated from each other are moved along the
straight shaped guide groove portion which is provided in the guide
plate, and the reversing operation and the deforming operation are
performed when the two pins are moved along the curved guide groove
portion.
16. The ice making device according to claim 14, wherein the ice
tray moving mechanism comprising: a first drive pin which is
attached to a first side face portion of the ice tray; a first
guide pin which is attached to the first side face portion so as to
be parallel to the first drive pin at a lower position with respect
to the first drive pin; a second drive pin which is attached to a
second side face portion of the ice tray so as to be located on a
same axial line as an axial line of the first drive pin; a second
guide pin which is attached to the second side face portion so as
to be located on a same axial line as an axial line of the first
guide pin; a first guide groove which is formed in a first side
wall portion of a device case that faces the first side face
portion and, into which the first drive pin and the first guide pin
are slidably inserted; a second guide groove which is formed in a
second side wall portion of the device case that faces the second
side face portion and, into which the second drive pin and the
second guide pin are slidably inserted; and a slide mechanism which
makes the first drive pin and the second drive pin slide along the
first guide groove and the second guide groove in a state that the
first drive pin and the second drive pin are rotatably supported
around their center axial lines; the first guide groove is formed
with a first straight shaped guide groove portion, which is
extended in an upper and lower direction in a straight line shape,
and a first curved guide groove portion which is continuously
formed from a lower end of the first straight shaped guide groove
portion so as to be curved downward in a convex state; the second
guide groove is formed with a second straight shaped guide groove
portion, which is extended in the upper and lower direction in a
straight line shape, and a second curved guide groove portion which
is continuously formed from a lower end of the second straight
shaped guide groove portion so as to be curved downward in a convex
state; the first straight line-shaped portion and the second
straight line-shaped portion are formed at a same position as each
other when viewed in an axial direction of the first and the second
drive pins; termination end portions of the first curved guide
groove portion and the second curved guide groove portion are
formed to be at vertically offset positions each other when viewed
in the axial direction of the first and the second drive pins; and
the ice making member drawing-out operation, the reversing
operation of the ice tray turned around the first and the second
drive pins, and the deforming operation in which the ice tray is
twisted with the first and the second drive pins as centers are
performed when the first and the second drive pins are moved along
the first and the second guide grooves by the slide mechanism.
17. The ice making device according to claim 13, further comprising
a pushing member which is turnably supported around a turning
center axial line and, to which the plurality of the storing parts
of the ice tray is pressed for deforming the plurality of the
storing parts of the ice tray, wherein the guide groove formed in
each of the guide plates is provided with a curved guide groove
portion that is continuously formed from a lower end of the
straight shaped guide groove portion so as to be curved downward in
a convex state, wherein a reversing operation is performed in which
the ice tray is reversed from an upward state to a downward state
when the ice tray is moved along the curved guide groove portion
from the straight shaped guide groove portion, and wherein a
deforming operation is performed in which the plurality of the
storing parts of the ice tray are pressed against the pushing
member so that the plurality of the storing parts are deformed when
the ice tray is moved along a termination end portion of the curved
guide groove portion.
18. The ice making device according to claim 17, wherein two pins
are provided in a separated manner on a side face portion of the
ice tray, the ice making member drawing-out operation is performed
when the two pins separated from each other are moved along the
straight shaped guide groove portion which is provided in the guide
plate, and the reversing operation and the deforming operation are
performed when the two pins are moved along the curved guide groove
portion.
19. The ice making device according to claim 17, wherein the ice
tray moving mechanism comprising: a first drive pin which is
attached to a first side face portion of the ice tray; a first
guide pin which is attached to the first side face portion so as to
be parallel to the first drive pin at a lower position with respect
to the first drive pin; a second drive pin which is attached to a
second side face portion of the ice tray so as to be located on a
same axial line as an axial line of the first drive pin; a second
guide pin which is attached to the second side face portion so as
to be located on a same axial line as an axial line of the first
guide pin; a first guide groove which is formed in a first side
wall portion of a device case that faces the first side face
portion and, into which the first drive pin and the first guide pin
are slidably inserted; a second guide groove which is formed in a
second side wall portion of the device case that faces the second
side face portion and, into which the second drive pin and the
second guide pin are slidably inserted; and a slide mechanism which
makes the first drive pin and the second drive pin slide along the
first guide groove and the second guide groove in a state that the
first drive pin and the second drive pin are rotatably supported
around their center axial lines; the first guide groove is formed
with a first straight shaped guide groove portion, which is
extended in an upper and lower direction in a straight line shape,
and a first curved guide groove portion which is continuously
formed from a lower end of the first straight shaped guide groove
portion so as to be curved downward in a convex state; the second
guide groove is formed with a second straight shaped guide groove
portion, which is extended in the upper and lower direction in a
straight line shape, and a second curved guide groove portion which
is continuously formed from a lower end of the second straight
shaped guide groove portion so as to be curved downward in a convex
state; the first straight line-shaped portion and the second
straight line-shaped portion are formed at a same position as each
other when viewed in an axial direction of the first and the second
drive pins; the ice making member drawing-out operation, the
reversing operation of the ice tray and the deforming operation of
the ice tray with the first and the second drive pins as centers
are performed when the first and the second drive pins are moved
along the first and the second guide grooves by the slide
mechanism; and the turning center axial line of the pushing member
is set in parallel to the center axial line of the first and the
second drive pins, and the pushing member is turned around the
turning center axial line while the ice tray is pressed against the
pushing member.
20. The ice making device according to claim 13, further comprising
a pushing member which is turnably supported around a turning
center axial line and, to which the plurality of the storing parts
of the ice tray is pressed for deforming the plurality of the
storing parts of the ice tray, wherein the pushing member is
turnably supported at a termination end position of the straight
shaped guide groove portion, and wherein, in a state that the
deforming operation has been performed in which the plurality of
the storing parts of the ice tray are pressed against the pushing
member to be deformed, the reversing operation is performed in
which the ice tray having been pressed and deformed by the pushing
member is reversed from an upward state to a downward state when
the pushing member is turned.
21. The ice making device according to claim 20, wherein the ice
tray moving mechanism comprising: a first drive pin which is
attached to a first side face portion of the ice tray; a second
drive pin which is attached to a second side face portion of the
ice tray so as to be located on a same axial line as an axial line
of the first drive pin; a first guide groove which is formed in a
first side wall portion of a device case that faces the first side
face portion so as to extend in an upper and lower direction in a
straight line shape and, into which the first drive pin is slidably
inserted; a second guide groove which is formed in a second side
wall portion of the device case that faces the second side face
portion so as to extend in the upper and lower direction in a
straight line shape and, into which the second drive pin is
slidably inserted; and a slide mechanism which makes the first
drive pin and the second drive pin slide along the first guide
groove and the second guide groove in a state that the first drive
pin and the second drive pin are rotatably supported around their
center axial lines; the first guide groove and the second guide
groove are formed at a same position as each other when viewed in
an axial direction of the first and the second drive pins; the ice
making member drawing-out operation and the deforming operation of
the ice tray are performed when the first and the second drive pins
are moved along the first and the second guide grooves by the slide
mechanism; the turning center axial line of the pushing member is
set to coincide with the center axial line of the first and the
second drive pins of the ice tray in a state that the ice tray has
been pressed and deformed by the pushing member; and the ice tray
reversing mechanism performs the reversing operation of the ice
tray with the first and the second drive pins as centers when the
pushing member is turned around the turning center axial line.
22. The ice making device according to claim 13, wherein each of at
least the plurality of the storing parts which structures the ice
tray is formed of rubber material which is capable of being
elastically deformed.
23. The ice making device according to claim 22, wherein the rubber
material is one of silicone rubber and fluororubber.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present invention claims priority under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.119 to Japanese Application No. 2010-17731 filed Jan. 29,
2010, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by
reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] At least an embodiment of the present invention may relate
to an ice making method in which an ice making member such as an
evaporation pipe is inserted into an ice tray that stores water to
manufacture ice pieces. More specifically, at least an embodiment
of the present invention may relate to an ice making method and/or
an ice making device in which water within an ice tray is capable
of being completely frozen when ice pieces are to be
manufactured.
BACKGROUND
[0003] In an ice making device in which an ice making member such
as evaporation pipe is inserted into an ice tray that stores water
to manufacture ice pieces, the ice making member in a cooled state
is inserted into the ice tray from an upper side and moved in an
upper and lower direction, i.e., moved in an up and down direction,
to manufacture ice pieces around the ice making member. When the
ice pieces have reached to a predetermined size, the ice making
member and the ice tray are separated from each other in the upper
and lower direction. In this case, since the ice pieces are fixed
to the ice making member, the ice making member and the ice pieces
are separated from the ice tray. After that, the ice tray is moved
to a position displaced from the underside of the ice making member
and then the ice making member is heated. As a result, portions of
the ice pieces fixed to the ice making member are melted, the ice
pieces are dropped and stored in an ice storage part which is
disposed on an under side.
[0004] The ice making device is described, for example, in Japanese
Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 10-47824 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
2004-301490. In the ice making devices, if water within the ice
tray is completely frozen, the ice tray and ice pieces are in a
fixed state and thus, when ice making members and the ice tray are
to be separated from each other, the ice pieces may be left in the
ice tray. Therefore, when ice pieces are to be manufactured around
the ice making member, water within the ice tray is required not to
be frozen completely.
[0005] However, in an ice making method in which water within the
ice tray is not frozen completely, the size and shape of an ice
piece cannot be determined by an inner peripheral face of the ice
tray and thus it is difficult to obtain ice pieces having a desired
size and shape. Further, since water within the ice tray is not
frozen completely, the surface of a manufactured ice piece is in a
wet state and thus water may be left in the ice storage part.
[0006] In order to prevent this problem, in a case that water
within the ice tray is frozen completely, it is conceivable that
the ice tray is heated with a heater to separate ice pieces from
the ice tray and the ice making member is separated from the ice
tray. However, when ice pieces within the ice tray are melted with
the heater, the surface of the ice piece becomes a wet state and
thus water may be stored within the ice storage part. Further, when
a heater is provided, a manufacturing cost of the ice making device
is increased.
SUMMARY
[0007] In view of the problems described above, at least an
embodiment of the present invention may advantageously provide an
ice making method in which an ice making member such as an
evaporation pipe is inserted into an ice tray that stores water to
manufacture an ice piece and manufactured ice pieces are stored in
an optional ice storage part that is located on an under side of
the ice tray and, in which the water within the ice tray is capable
of being completely frozen and a heater for heating the ice tray is
not provided. Further, at least an embodiment of the present
invention may advantageously provide an ice making device for
performing the ice making method.
[0008] According to at least an embodiment of the present
invention, there may be provided an ice making method including an
ice making member inserting step in which an ice making member is
inserted into water for ice making that is stored in an ice tray,
an ice piece making step in which the ice making member is cooled
so that the water stored in the ice tray is frozen to form an ice
piece or pieces, an ice making member heating step in which the ice
making member is heated so that a portion of the ice piece sticking
to the ice making member is melted, an ice making member
drawing-out step in which the ice making member is drawn out from
the ice pieces, an ice pieces separating step in which the ice tray
is deformed to separate the ice pieces from the ice tray, and an
ice pieces storing step in which the ice pieces having been
separated is dropped from the ice tray to be stored in an ice
storage part.
[0009] According to this embodiment of the present invention, when
ice pieces formed in the ice tray are to be stored in the ice
storage part, first, the ice making member is drawn out from the
ice pieces so that the ice pieces are left in the ice tray.
Therefore, the ice pieces and the ice tray may be allowed to be in
a fixed state and thus the water stored in the ice tray is capable
of being completely frozen by the ice making member. As a result,
the shape of the ice pieces is determined by an inner peripheral
face of the ice tray and thus an ice piece having a desired size
and shape is manufactured. Further, since the surface of a
manufactured ice piece or pieces is not in wet state, water is
restrained to be stored in the ice storage part. In addition, since
water within the ice tray is completely frozen, an ice making
operation by the ice making member can be simply managed on the
basis of time or the like. Further, the ice pieces which are left
in the ice tray are dropped to the ice storage part when the ice
tray is turned over and deformed and thus a heater for separating
the ice piece or pieces from the ice tray is not required.
Therefore, a manufacturing cost of the ice making device is
restrained. In addition, since the surface of the ice piece or
pieces is not melted by a heater, water is not stored in the ice
storage part.
[0010] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention,
in the ice making member drawing-out step, the ice making member is
drawn out upward from the ice pieces and the ice tray is moved
relatively downward with respect to the ice making member and the
ice pieces separating step. The ice pieces storing step is
performed on the underside of the ice making member. According to
this method, the size of the ice making device can be reduced in
the horizontal direction when compared to the prior art.
[0011] In this case, in order to separate the ice pieces from the
ice tray to drop the ice pieces into the ice storage part, it is
preferable that, in the ice pieces separating step, a reversing
operation in which the ice tray is reversed or turned over from an
upward state to a downward state and a deforming operation in which
the ice tray is deformed are performed in a parallel manner and, in
the ice pieces storing step, the ice tray having been deformed is
held in the downward state to drop the ice pieces into the ice
storage part.
[0012] Specifically, it may be structured that guide plates in
which guide grooves for guiding movement of the ice tray are
respectively formed are provided on both sides of the ice tray, the
guide grooves which are formed in the guide plates are respectively
provided with a straight shaped guide groove portion that is
extended in a straight line shape in the upper and lower direction
and a curved guide groove portion that is continuously formed from
a lower end of the straight shaped guide groove portion so as to be
curved downward in a convex shape, and termination end portions of
the curved guide groove portions in the guide plates are set to be
at vertically offset positions each other. In this structure, it
may be performed that, in the ice making member drawing-out step,
an ice making member drawing-out operation is performed in which
the ice making member is drawn out from the ice pieces when the ice
tray is moved downward along the straight shaped guide groove
portion and, in the ice pieces separating step, while performing
the reversing operation where the ice tray is reversed from the
upward state to the downward state when the ice tray is moved from
the straight shaped guide groove portions along the curved guide
groove portions, a deforming operation is performed in which the
ice tray is twisted and deformed when the ice tray is moved along
the termination end portions of the curved guide groove
portions.
[0013] Further, it may be structured that guide plates in which
guide grooves for guiding movement of the ice tray are respectively
formed are provided on both sides of the ice tray, the guide
grooves which are formed in the guide plates are respectively
provided with a straight shaped guide groove portion that is
extended in a straight line shape in the upper and lower direction
and a curved guide groove portion that is continuously formed from
a lower end of the straight shaped guide groove portion so as to be
curved downward in a convex shape, and a pushing member is provided
which is turnably supported around a turning center axial line and
pressed against the ice tray for deforming the ice tray. In this
structure, it may be performed that, in the ice making member
drawing-out step, an ice making member drawing-out operation is
performed in which the ice making member is drawn out from the ice
pieces when the ice tray is moved downward along the straight
shaped guide groove portion and, in the ice pieces separating step,
a reversing operation is performed in which the ice tray is
reversed from the upward state to the downward state when the ice
tray is moved along the curved guide groove portions from the
straight shaped guide groove portions, and a deforming operation in
which the ice tray is deformed by the pushing member is performed
when the ice tray is moved along the termination end portions of
the curved guide groove portions.
[0014] In this case, it is preferable that two pins are provided in
a separated manner on a side face portion of the ice tray, the ice
making member drawing-out operation is performed when the two pins
separated from each other are moved along the straight shaped guide
groove portion which is provided in the guide plate, and the
reversing operation and the deforming operation are performed when
the two pins are moved along the curved guide groove portion.
[0015] Further, in order to drop the ice pieces to an under side of
the ice tray, it is preferable that, in the reversing operation,
the ice tray is reversed from the upward state where an upper face
opening of the ice tray is located on an upper side with respect to
a bottom of the ice tray to the downward state where the upper face
opening of the ice tray is located on an under side with respect to
the bottom of the ice tray and, in the deforming operation, the ice
tray is deformed during the reversing operation from a vertical
state where the upper face opening of the ice tray is in a vertical
state to the downward state.
[0016] Further, in order to separate the ice pieces from the ice
tray to drop the ice pieces into the ice storage part, it is
preferable that, in the ice pieces separating step, a deforming
operation is performed in which the ice tray in the upward state is
deformed and, in the ice pieces storing step, a reversing operation
is performed in which the ice tray is reversed from the upward
state to the downward state.
[0017] Further, according to at least an embodiment of the present
invention, there may be provided an ice making device including an
ice tray which is provided with a plurality of storing parts for
storing water for ice making, each of the plurality of the storing
parts being formed of material which is capable of being
elastically deformed, an ice storage part which is disposed on an
under side of the ice tray, an ice making member which is inserted
into the storing parts of the ice tray from an upper side for
freezing water in the storing parts, an ice making member heating
mechanism for heating the ice making member, an ice tray moving
mechanism which performs an ice making member drawing-out operation
in which the ice making member is drawn out from the storing parts,
a reversing operation in which the ice tray is reversed from an
upward state to a downward state, and a deforming operation in
which the ice tray is deformed, when the ice tray is moved along a
predetermined moving passage, guide plates disposed on both sides
of the ice tray in which guide grooves for guiding movement of the
ice tray are respectively formed, and the guide grooves which are
provided in the guide plates with at least a straight shaped guide
groove portion that is extended in a straight line shape in an
upper and lower direction. The ice making member drawing-out
operation is performed when the ice tray is moved along the
straight shaped guide groove portion and the reversing operation
and the deforming operation are performed on an under side with
respect to the ice making member.
[0018] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the ice
pieces which is left in the ice tray is separated from the ice tray
to be dropped into the ice storage part when the ice tray is
twisted and deformed while being turned over.
[0019] In this case, in order that the ice tray is twisted while
being turned over, it may be structured that the guide groove which
is formed in each of the guide plates is provided with a curved
guide groove portion that is continuously formed from a lower end
of the straight shaped guide groove portion so as to be curved
downward in a convex shape, termination end portions of the curved
guide groove portions of the guide plates are formed to be located
at vertically offset positions each other, a reversing operation is
performed in which the ice tray is turned over or reversed from an
upward state to a downward state. The ice tray is moved along the
curved guide groove portions from the straight shaped guide groove
portions, and thus a deforming operation is performed in which the
ice tray is twisted and deformed when the ice tray is moved along
the termination end portions of the curved guide groove
portions.
[0020] Further, in this case, in order that the ice tray is twisted
while being turned over, it may be structured that two pins are
provided in a separated manner on a side face portion of the ice
tray, the ice making member drawing-out operation is performed when
the two pins separated from each other are moved along the straight
shaped guide groove portion which is provided in the guide plate,
and the reversing operation and the deforming operation are
performed when the two pins are moved along the curved guide groove
portion.
[0021] Specifically, in order that the ice tray is twisted while
being turned over, it may be structured that the ice tray moving
mechanism includes a first drive pin which is attached to a first
side face portion of the ice tray, a first guide pin which is
attached to the first side face portion so as to be parallel to the
first drive pin at a lower position with respect to the first drive
pin, a second drive pin which is attached to a second side face
portion of the ice tray so as to be located on the same axial line
as an axial line of the first drive pin, a second guide pin which
is attached to the second side face portion so as to be located on
the same axial line as an axial line of the first guide pin, a
first guide groove which is formed in a first side wall portion of
a device case that faces the first side face portion and, into
which the first drive pin and the first guide pin are slidably
inserted, a second guide groove which is formed in a second side
wall portion of the device case that faces the second side face
portion and, into which the second drive pin and the second guide
pin are slidably inserted, and a slide mechanism which makes the
first drive pin and the second drive pin slide along the first
guide groove and the second guide groove in a state that the first
drive pin and the second drive pin are rotatably supported around
their center axial lines. The first guide groove is formed with a
first straight shaped guide groove portion, which is extended in an
upper and lower direction in a straight line shape, and a first
curved guide groove portion which is continuously formed from a
lower end of the first straight shaped guide groove portion so as
to be curved downward in a convex shape and the second guide groove
is formed with a second straight shaped guide groove portion, which
is extended in the upper and lower direction in a straight line
shape, and a second curved guide groove portion which is
continuously formed from a lower end of the second straight shaped
guide groove portion so as to be curved downward in a convex shape.
The first straight line-shaped portion and the second straight
line-shaped portion are formed at the same position as each other
when viewed in an axial direction of the first and the second drive
pins and termination end portions of the first curved guide groove
portion and the second curved guide groove portion are formed to be
located at vertically offset positions each other when viewed in
the axial direction of the first and the second drive pins. The ice
making member drawing-out operation, the reversing operation of the
ice tray turned around the first and the second drive pins, and the
deforming operation in which the ice tray is twisted with the first
and the second drive pins as centers are performed when the first
and the second drive pins are moved along the first and the second
guide grooves by the slide mechanism.
[0022] Further, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention, in order that the ice tray is twisted while being turned
over, it may be structured that a pushing member is provided which
is turnably supported around a turning center axial line and, to
which the plurality of the storing parts of the ice tray is pressed
so that the plurality of the storing parts of the ice tray are
deformed. The guide groove formed in each of the guide plates is
provided with a curved guide groove portion that is continuously
formed from a lower end of the straight shaped guide groove portion
so as to be curved downward in a convex shape. A reversing
operation is performed in which the ice tray is reversed from an
upward state to a downward state when the ice tray is moved along
the curved guide groove portion from the straight shaped guide
groove portion, and a deforming operation is performed in which the
plurality of the storing parts of the ice tray are pressed against
the pushing member so that the plurality of the storing parts are
deformed when the ice tray is moved along a termination end portion
of the curved guide groove portion.
[0023] According to this embodiment of the present invention, the
ice pieces which are left in the ice tray is separated from the ice
tray to be dropped into the ice storage part when the ice tray is
pressed against the pushing member to be deformed while being
turned over.
[0024] In this case, it is preferable that two pins are provided in
a separated manner on a side face portion of the ice tray, the ice
making member drawing-out operation is performed when the two pins
separated from each other are moved along the straight shaped guide
groove portion which is provided in the guide plate, and the
reversing operation and the deforming operation are performed when
the two pins are moved along the curved guide groove portion.
[0025] Specifically, in order that the ice tray is pressed against
the pushing member while being reversed, it may be structured that
the ice tray moving mechanism includes a first drive pin which is
attached to a first side face portion of the ice tray, a first
guide pin which is attached to the first side face portion so as to
be parallel to the first drive pin at a lower position with respect
to the first drive pin, a second drive pin which is attached to a
second side face portion of the ice tray so as to be located on the
same axial line as an axial line of the first drive pin, a second
guide pin which is attached to the second side face portion so as
to be located on the same axial line as an axial line of the first
guide pin, a first guide groove which is formed in a first side
wall portion of a device case that faces the first side face
portion and, into which the first drive pin and the first guide pin
are slidably inserted, a second guide groove which is formed in a
second side wall portion of the device case that faces the second
side face portion and, into which the second drive pin and the
second guide pin are slidably inserted, and a slide mechanism which
makes the first drive pin and the second drive pin slide along the
first guide groove and the second guide groove in a state that the
first drive pin and the second drive pin are rotatably supported
around their center axial lines. The first guide groove is formed
with a first straight shaped guide groove portion, which is
extended in an upper and lower direction in a straight line shape,
and a first curved guide groove portion which is continuously
formed from a lower end of the first straight shaped guide groove
portion so as to be curved downward in a convex shape, and the
second guide groove is formed with a second straight shaped guide
groove portion, which is extended in the upper and lower direction
in a straight line shape, and a second curved guide groove portion
which is continuously formed from a lower end of the second
straight shaped guide groove portion so as to be curved downward in
a convex shape. The first guide groove and the second guide groove
are formed at the same position as each other when viewed in an
axial direction of the first and the second drive pins. The ice
making member drawing-out operation, the reversing operation and
the deforming operation of the ice tray with the first and the
second drive pins as centers are performed when the first and the
second drive pins are moved along the first and the second guide
grooves by the slide mechanism. Further, the turning center axial
line of the pushing member is set in parallel to the center axial
line of the first and the second drive pins and the pushing member
is turned around the turning center axial line while the ice tray
is pressed against the pushing member.
[0026] Further, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention, a pushing member is provided which is turnably supported
around a turning center axial line and, to which the plurality of
the storing parts of the ice tray is pressed so that the plurality
of the storing parts of the ice tray is deformed. The pushing
member is turnably supported at a termination end position of the
straight shaped guide groove portion and, in a state that the
deforming operation has been performed in which the plurality of
the storing parts of the ice tray are pressed against the pushing
member to be deformed, the reversing operation is performed in
which the ice tray having been pressed and deformed by the pushing
member is reversed from an upward state to a downward state when
the pushing member is turned.
[0027] According to the embodiment of the present invention, the
ice pieces which are left in the ice tray are separated from the
ice tray when the ice tray is pressed against the pushing member to
be deformed and the ice pieces are dropped into the ice storage
part when the ice tray is turned over.
[0028] In this case, in order that the ice tray is reversed after
the ice tray has been pressed against the pushing member to be
deformed, it is preferable that the ice tray moving mechanism
includes a first drive pin which is attached to a first side face
portion of the ice tray, a second drive pin which is attached to a
second side face portion of the ice tray so as to be located on the
same axial line as an axial line of the first drive pin, a first
guide groove which is formed in a first side wall portion of a
device case that faces the first side face portion so as to extend
in an upper and lower direction in a straight line shape and, into
which the first drive pin is slidably inserted, a second guide
groove which is formed in a second side wall portion of the device
case that faces the second side face portion so as to extend in the
upper and lower direction in a straight line shape and, into which
the second drive pin is slidably inserted, and a slide mechanism
which makes the first drive pin and the second drive pin slide
along the first guide groove and the second guide groove in a state
that the first drive pin and the second drive pin are rotatably
supported around their center axial lines. The first guide groove
and the second guide groove are formed at the same position as each
other when viewed in an axial direction of the first and the second
drive pins. The ice making member drawing-out operation and the
deforming operation of the ice tray are performed when the first
and the second drive pins are moved along the first and the second
guide grooves by the slide mechanism, the turning center axial line
of the pushing member is set to coincide with the center axial line
of the first and the second drive pins of the ice tray in a state
that the ice tray has been pressed and deformed by the pushing
member, and the ice tray reversing mechanism performs the reversing
operation of the ice tray with the first and the second drive pins
as centers when the pushing member is turned around the turning
center axial line.
[0029] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention,
in order that the ice tray is pressed against the pushing member to
be deformed, it is preferable that each of at least the plurality
of the storing parts which structures the ice tray is formed of
rubber material which is capable of being elastically deformed.
Specifically, the rubber material may be formed of one of silicone
rubber and fluororubber.
[0030] Other features and advantages of the invention will be
apparent from the following detailed description, taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings that illustrate, by way
of example, various features of embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0031] Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only,
with reference to the accompanying drawings which are meant to be
exemplary, not limiting, and wherein like elements are numbered
alike in several Figures, in which:
[0032] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an ice making unit of
an ice making device in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention which is viewed from obliquely above.
[0033] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the ice
making unit in FIG. 1.
[0034] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an ice tray in FIG.
1.
[0035] FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an ice making operation in an
ice making device in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0036] FIGS. 5(a) through 5(f) are explanatory views showing an ice
storing operation in the ice making device shown in FIG. 1 where
ice pieces are to be stored in an ice storage part from an ice
tray.
[0037] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an ice making unit of
an ice making device in accordance with another embodiment of the
present invention which is viewed from obliquely above.
[0038] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing the ice
making unit in FIG. 6.
[0039] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an ice tray unit in
FIG. 6.
[0040] FIGS. 9(a) through 9(e) are explanatory views showing an ice
storing operation in the ice making device shown in FIG. 6 where
ice pieces are to be stored in an ice storage part from an ice
tray.
[0041] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an ice making unit of
an ice making device in accordance with another embodiment of the
present invention which is viewed from obliquely above.
[0042] FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing the ice
making unit in FIG. 10.
[0043] FIGS. 12(a) through 12(f) are explanatory views showing an
ice storing operation in the ice making device shown in FIG. 10
where ice pieces are to be stored in an ice storage part from an
ice tray.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0044] Ice making devices to which the present invention is applied
will be described below with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
First Embodiment
[0045] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an ice making unit of
an ice making device in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention which is viewed from obliquely above. FIG. 2 is
an exploded perspective view showing the ice making unit in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an ice tray.
[0046] Overall, an ice making device 1 successively manufactures
ice pieces in a refrigerator or a freezer and drops manufactured
ice pieces into an optional ice storage part 2 or ice bin which is
disposed underneath the ice making unit 3. As shown in FIG. 1, the
ice making device 1 includes an ice making unit 3 for manufacturing
ice pieces and a drive unit (not shown) for driving the ice making
unit 3. The optional ice storage part 2 is provided on an under
side of the ice making unit 3. The drive unit is driven and
controlled by a control section of a refrigerator or a freezer on
or in which the ice making device 1 is mounted.
[0047] The ice making unit 3 includes a frame-shaped device case 4,
an ice tray 5 which is disposed at a center portion on an inner
side of the device case 4, an ice making member 6 that is inserted
from an upper side into the ice tray 5 for freezing water for
manufacturing ice pieces stored in the ice tray 5, an ice making
member heating mechanism (not shown) for heating the ice making
member 6, and an ice tray moving mechanism 7 which moves the ice
tray 5 to a position separated from the ice making member 6 and
deforms the ice tray 5 while the ice tray 5 is reversed to drop ice
pieces manufactured in the ice tray 5 to the ice storage part 2 or
bin below.
[0048] As shown in FIG. 2, the device case 4 is provided with right
and left side plates 41 and 42 (first and second side wall
portions), which define right and left ends of the ice making unit
3 in a widthwise direction, and a front plate 43 and a rear plate
44 which are stretched over front ends and rear ends of the right
and left side plates 41 and 42. A top plate 45 is stretched over
rear side portions of upper ends of the right and left side plates
41 and 42 and a top face opening 4a is formed on a front side of
the top plate 45. The entire bottom area of the device case 4 is
formed as an under face opening 4b (for the ice to fall through) as
shown in FIG. 2.
[0049] The right and left side plates 41 and 42 are respectively
formed with guide grooves 46 and 47 for providing with a function
as a guide plate for moving the ice tray 5. The guide grooves 46
and 47 are provided with straight shaped guide groove portions 46a
and 47a, which are extended in a straight line shape in an upper
and lower direction, and curved guide groove portions 46b and 47b
which are continuously formed from lower ends of the straight
shaped guide groove portions 46a and 47a so as to be curved in a
convex shape toward under side. When the ice making unit is viewed
in its widthwise direction, a left side straight shaped guide
groove portion (first straight shaped guide groove portion) 46a of
the left side guide groove (first guide groove) 46 which is formed
in the left side plate 41 and a right side straight shaped guide
groove portion (second straight shaped guide groove portion) 47a of
the right side guide groove (second guide groove) 47 which is
formed in the right side plate 42 are provided so as to overlap
with each other at the same position. Further, when the ice making
unit is viewed in its widthwise direction, a left side curved guide
groove portion (first curved guide groove portion) 46b of the left
side guide groove 46 and a right side curved guide groove portion
(second curved guide groove portion) 47b of the right side guide
groove 47 are provided so that their termination end portions 46c
and 47c are located at vertically offset positions each other. More
specifically, the termination end portion 46c of the left side
curved guide groove portion 46b is located at an upper position
with respect to the termination end portion 47c of the right side
curved guide groove portion 47b. The right and left guide grooves
46 and 47 structure parts of the ice tray moving mechanism 7.
[0050] When viewed from an upper side, the ice tray 5 is formed in
a rectangular shape which is longer in the widthwise direction of
the ice making unit. A recessed part 51 is formed in its center
portion and the ice tray 5 is disposed so that an upper face
opening 51a of the recessed part 51 is exposed from the top face
opening 4a of the device case 4. The ice tray 5 is formed of resin
which is elastically deformable material such as PPC and eight ice
making cells (storing part) 52 which are capable of storing a
certain amount of water are formed on a lower side portion of the
recessed part 51. Eight ice making cells 52 are formed in two rows
along the widthwise direction of the ice making unit and formed in
four rows along the front and rear direction of the ice making
unit. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each of the ice making cells 52 is
provided with a body part 52a in a tube-like shape and a
hemispheric bottom part 52b which is bulged to an under side from
the lower side of the body part 52a. An inner peripheral face of
each of the ice making cells 52 is formed with a groove 52c which
is extended in a direction intersecting with both of the widthwise
direction and the front and rear direction of the ice making unit
when viewed from the upper side.
[0051] In the ice making device 1 in this embodiment, since water
in the ice tray 5 is cooled and frozen by the ice making member 6
which is inserted into the ice tray 5, the ice tray 5 is not
required to be formed of material whose coefficient of thermal
conductivity is high and thus a high degree of freedom in selecting
material is attained. Therefore, the ice making cell (storing part)
52 which is formed in the lower portion of the recessed part 51 of
the ice tray 5 may be formed of, but is not limited to, rubber
material for example. For example, when the ice tray 5 is formed of
silicone rubber or the like which is elastically deformed easily,
the ice tray 5 is easily twisted to be deformed and thus ice pieces
are easily separated from ice making cells (storing part) 52 of the
ice tray 5. Alternatively, in a case that the ice tray 5 is formed
of fluororubber or the like, when the ice tray 5 is deformed, ice
pieces are easily separated from the ice making cells (storing
part) 52 of the ice tray 5.
[0052] Two pins are provided in a separated manner on a side face
portion of both sides of the ice tray 5. Specifically, a left side
drive pin (first drive pin) 53 is protruded from a left side face
portion in the widthwise direction of the ice making unit of the
ice tray 5. A left side guide pin (first guide pin) 55 is protruded
from a portion on the lower side of the left side drive pin 53 on
the left side face of the ice tray 5 so as to be parallel to the
left side drive pin 53. A right side drive pin (second drive pin)
54 is protruded from a right side face portion in the widthwise
direction of the ice making unit of the ice tray 5 so as to be
located on the same axial line as the left side drive pin 53. A
right side guide pin (second guide pin) 56 is protruded from a
portion on the lower side of the right side drive pin 54 on the
right side face of the ice tray 5 so as to be located on the same
axial line as the left side guide pin 55. The right and left drive
pins 53 and 54 and the right and left guide pins 55 and 56 are
protruded to outer sides from a center portion in a short side
direction of the ice tray 5, in other words, from a portion between
two rows of the ice making cells 52 which are extended in the
widthwise direction of the ice making unit of the ice tray 5. The
right and left drive pins 53 and 54 and the right and left guide
pins 55 and 56 structure parts of the ice tray moving mechanism
7.
[0053] The ice making member 6 is an evaporation pipe which
structures a refrigerating cycle together with a compressor, a
condenser and the like (not shown). The ice making member 6 is
provided with a U-shaped main pipe 61, which is disposed in
parallel to the upper face opening 51a of the ice tray 5, and eight
branch pipes 62 which are extended to the underside from the main
pipe 61. Each of the branch pipes 62 is inserted into each of the
ice making cells 52 from the upper side.
[0054] Refrigerant flowing in from a refrigerant inflow port 61a of
the main pipe 61 is flowed through the main pipe 61 and the
respective branch pipes 62 and then ejected from a refrigerant
ejection port 61b. When refrigerant is flown in a state that water
has been stored within the ice tray, heat exchange is performed
between the refrigerant and the water within the ice making cells
52 through the branch pipes 62. As a result, water within the ice
making cells 52 is frozen to be ice pieces. In accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention, instead of providing the
branch pipes 62, it may be structured that eight protruded parts
formed of material whose heat conductivity is high are attached to
the main pipe 61 and these protruded parts are inserted into the
ice making cells 52 as the ice making member.
[0055] The ice making member heating mechanism supplies hot gas to
the main pipe 61 and the branch pipes 62 of the ice making member 6
to heat the main pipe 61 and the branch pipes 62. Hot gas may be
refrigerant which is pressurized to a high temperature or
refrigerant which is heated by a heater to a high temperature. In
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the ice
making member heating mechanism may be structured so that a heater
is disposed along the main pipe 61 and the heater is driven and
controlled to heat the main pipe 61 and the branch pipes 62.
[0056] The ice tray moving mechanism 7 makes the ice tray 5 move
along the right and left guide grooves 46 and 47 and performs a
reversing operation in which the ice tray 5 is reversed from an
upward state (upwardly directed state) to a downward state
(downwardly directed state) and a deforming operation in which the
ice tray 5 is twisted and deformed in a parallel manner to drop ice
pieces of the ice tray 5 into the ice storage part 2. In the
reversing operation, the ice tray 5 is reversed from the upward
state where the upper face opening 51a is horizontally located at
an upper position with respect to the bottom of the ice tray 5 to
the downward state where the bottom of the ice tray 5 (lower end of
the bottom part 52b of the ice making cell 52) is located at an
upper position with respect to the upper face opening 51a. In the
deforming operation, the ice tray 5 is twisted and deformed in the
middle of the reversing operation from a state where the upper face
opening 51a of the ice tray 5 is vertically located to a state
where the ice tray 5 is reached to the downward state.
[0057] The ice tray moving mechanism 7 is provided with the right
and left guide grooves 46 and 47, the right and left drive pins 53
and 54, the right and left guide pins 55 and 56, and a slide
mechanism 71 which makes the right and left drive pins 53 and 54
move along the right and left guide grooves 46 and 47 in a state
that the right and left drive pins 53 and 54 are rotatably
supported around their center axis lines. The slide mechanism 71 is
provided with a rotation shaft 72 which is stretched between the
right and left side plates 41 and 42 on a rear side of the ice tray
5, and right and left turning arms 73 and 74 which are attached to
the rotation shaft 72.
[0058] The rotation shaft 72 is extended in parallel to the center
axis line of the left side drive pin 53 and the right side drive
pin 54 of the ice tray 5 and both end portions of the rotation
shaft 72 are inserted into right and left circular opening parts
41a and 42a which are formed in the right and left side plates 41
and 42 of the case 4 and thus the rotation shaft 72 is rotatably
supported. A drive force is transmitted to the rotation shaft 72
from a drive source of the drive unit which is disposed on the
outside of the ice making unit 3.
[0059] The right and left turning arms 73 and 74 are attached to
the rotation shaft 72 so as to sandwich the ice tray 5 on both
sides in the widthwise direction of the ice making unit. The left
side turning arm 73 and the right side turning arm 74 are
respectively provided with extended arm portions 73a and 74a, which
are extended in the front and rear direction of the ice making
unit, and curved arm portions 73b and 74b which are continuously
curved downward from rear end portions of the extended arm portions
73a and 74a. End portions of the curved arm portions 73b and 74b
are fixed to the rotation shaft 72 and the extended arm portions
73a and 74a are formed with slide grooves 73c and 74c.
[0060] The left side drive pin 53 of the ice tray 5 is slidably
inserted into the left side guide groove 46 of the device case 4 in
a state that the left side drive pin 53 is slidably inserted into
the left side slide groove 73c of the left side turning arm 73. The
right side drive pin 54 of the ice tray 5 is slidably inserted into
the right side guide groove 47 of the device case 4 in a state that
the right side drive pin 54 is slidably inserted into the right
side slide groove 74c of the right side turning arm 74. Further,
the right and left drive pins 53 and 54 are supported by the right
and left turning arms 73 and 74 in a rotatable state around their
center axis lines. The left side guide pin 55 of the ice tray 5 is
slidably inserted into the left side guide groove 46 of the device
case 4 and the right side guide pin 56 of the ice tray 5 is
slidably inserted into the right side guide groove 47 of the device
case 4.
[0061] When the rotation shaft 72 is rotationally driven in a
predetermined angular range by the drive unit, the right and left
turning arms 73 and 74 are integrally turned with the rotation
shaft 72 in a predetermined angular range with the rotation shaft
72 as a center. With turning of the right and left turning arms 73
and 74, the right and left drive pins 53 and 54 are moved along the
right and left guide grooves 46 and 47 while sliding on the right
and left slide grooves 73c and 74c. Simultaneously, the right and
left guide pins 55 and 56 are moved along the right and left guide
grooves 46 and 47. As a result, the ice tray 5 is moved while being
guided by the right and left guide grooves 46 and 47.
[0062] Next, an ice making operation by the ice making device 1
will be described below with reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 4 and FIGS.
5(a) through 5(f). FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an ice making
operation. FIGS. 5(a) through 5(f) are explanatory views showing an
ice storing operation in which ice pieces are to be stored in an
ice storage part from an ice tray. In FIGS. 5(a) through 5(f), the
ice tray 5 and the turning arms 74 are shown by a solid line so
that movements of the ice tray and the turning arms are easily
understood.
[0063] In an initial state before ice pieces are manufactured, as
shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 5(a)-5(b), the ice tray 5 is disposed at
an insertion position 5A where the branch pipes 62 of the ice
making member 6 are inserted into the ice making cells 52 from the
upper side. In this state, a predetermined amount of water is
supplied to the ice tray 5 through a water-supply pipe not shown.
As a result, the ice making member 6 is in a state that the ice
making member 6 is inserted into water which is stored in the ice
making cells 52 (ice making member insertion step: step "ST1", FIG.
5(a)). In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention,
it may be structured that, after a predetermined amount of water is
supplied to the ice tray 5 through a water-supply pipe, the ice
tray 5 and the ice making member 6 are relatively moved so that the
branch pipes 62 of the ice making member 6 are inserted into the
ice making cells 52 and, in this manner, the ice making member 6 is
inserted into water stored in the ice making cell 52.
[0064] When the ice making cells 52 are filled with water, the
control section flows refrigerant through the ice making member 6
and water in the ice making cells 52 is frozen through vaporization
heat of the refrigerant (ice making step: step "ST2"). In this
embodiment, water in the ice making cells 52 is completely frozen
when a time period when the refrigerant is circulated is set to be
a predetermined time period. Alternatively, water in the ice making
cells 52 is completely frozen when the refrigerant is circulated
until a temperature of the ice tray 5 is reached to a predetermined
temperature. As a result, ice pieces in a fixed state to the ice
tray 5 and to the ice making member 6 are manufactured within the
ice making cell 52.
[0065] Next, the ice making member 6 is heated by the ice making
member heating mechanism and portions of manufactured ice pieces
sticking to the ice making member 6 are melted (ice making member
heating step: step "ST3").
[0066] After that, the ice tray 5 is moved downward while the
attitude of the ice tray 5 is maintained and the ice tray 5 is
moved from the insertion position 5A to a first separated position
5B where the ice making member 6 is separated to the outside from
the ice tray 5.
[0067] More specifically, the slide mechanism 71 makes the rotation
shaft 72 turn in a counterclockwise direction and makes the turning
arms 73 and 74 turn in the counterclockwise direction. As a result,
the right and left drive pins 53 and 54 and the right and left
guide pins 55 and 56 are moved downward along the straight shaped
guide groove portions 46a and 47a of the right and left guide
grooves 46 and 47 and thus, while the attitude of the ice tray 5 is
maintained, the ice tray 5 is moved from the insertion position 5A
to the first separated position 5B where the ice making member 6 is
separated from the ice tray 5 to the outside. In this case, since
ice pieces are in a fixed state to the ice tray 5, the ice pieces
are moved down together with the ice tray 5. Therefore, the ice
making member 6 is drawn out from the ice pieces (ice making member
drawing out step: step "ST4", see FIG. 5(b)). In this embodiment,
when the ice tray 5 is to be moved down, the ice pieces do not
stick to the ice making member 6 and thus they are not in a fixed
state. Therefore, a load is not applied to the ice making member
6.
[0068] After that, the ice tray 5 is deformed to separate ice
pieces from the ice tray 5 and the ice tray 5 is directed to the
underside to drop the ice pieces to the ice storage part 2 for
storage (ice piece separation step and ice piece storage step: step
"ST5", see FIG. 5(c) through FIG. 5(f)).
[0069] In this embodiment, in the step "ST5", the turning arms 73
and 74 are turned further in the counterclockwise direction to move
the ice tray 5 along the curved guide groove portions 46b and 47b.
During this operation, the ice tray 5 is twisted while the ice tray
5 is turned over in the downward state.
[0070] In other words, in the first separated position 5B, the
right and left guide pins 55 and 56 of the ice tray 5 are located
at lower ends of the straight shaped guide groove portions 46a and
47a of the right and left guide grooves 46 and 47. Therefore, when
the turning arms 73 and 74 are further turned in the
counterclockwise direction from this state, the right and left
guide pins 55 and 56 begin to move along the curved guide groove
portions 46b and 47b of the right and left guide grooves 46 and 47.
As a result, the ice tray 5 is turned with the right and left drive
pins 53 and 54 as centers and, as shown in FIG. 5(c), the upper
face opening 51a of the ice tray 5 is inclined toward the front
side and, after that, the upper face opening 51a is located in a
vertical state.
[0071] When the turning arms 73 and 74 are further turned in the
counterclockwise direction, as shown in FIG. 5(d), the right and
left drive pins 53 and 54 are also slid on the curved guide groove
portions 46b and 47b of the right and left guide grooves 46 and 47,
and the ice tray 5 becomes to a state that its upper face opening
51a is directed to the underside.
[0072] After that, as shown in FIGS. 5(e) and 5(f), when the right
and left guide pins 55 and 56 are moved along the termination end
portions 46c and 47c of the right and left curved guide groove
portions 46b and 47b, the ice tray 5 is twisted. In other words,
the termination end portion 46c of the left side curved guide
groove portion 46b and the termination end portion 47c of the right
side curved guide groove portion 47b are vertically offset each
other, i.e., their positions are different from each other in the
upper and lower direction when viewed in the widthwise direction of
the ice making unit and thus the ice tray 5 is twisted and
deformed. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5(f), at the second
separated position 5C where the right and left guide pins 55 and 56
have reached to the ends of the right and left curved guide groove
portions 46b and 47b, ice pieces which are in a fixed state to the
ice tray 5 are separated from the ice tray 5. Therefore, the ice
pieces are dropped from the ice tray 5 which is directed to the
underside and the ice pieces are stored in the optional ice storage
part 2.
[0073] When the ice pieces in the ice tray 5 are stored in the ice
storage part 2, the rotation shaft 72 is turned in the clockwise
direction by the drive unit by a predetermined angular range. As a
result, the turning arms 73 and 74 are turned in the clockwise
direction by a predetermined angular range and the right and left
drive pins 53 and 54 and the right and left guide pins 55 and 56
are moved along the guide grooves 46 and 47 in the opposite
direction. Therefore, the twisting of the ice tray 5 is released
and the ice tray 5 is returned to the insertion position 5A.
[0074] According to this embodiment, when ice pieces formed in the
ice tray 5 are to be stored in the ice storage part 2, first, the
ice making member 6 is drawn out from the ice pieces and the ice
pieces are left in the ice tray 5 (step "ST4"). Therefore, the ice
pieces and the ice tray 5 may be allowed to be in a fixed state and
thus the water stored in the ice tray 5 is capable of being
completely frozen by the ice making member 6. As a result, the
shape of an ice piece is determined by a shape of an inner
peripheral face of the ice making cell 52 of the ice tray 5 and
thus ice pieces having a desired size and shape are manufactured.
Further, since the surface of a manufactured ice piece is not in
wet state, water is restrained from being stored in the ice storage
part 2. In addition, since water within the ice tray 5 is
completely frozen, an ice making operation by the ice making member
6 can be simply managed on the basis of time or the like. Further,
ice pieces which are left in the ice tray 5 are dropped to the ice
storage part 2 when the ice tray 5 is turned over and deformed and
thus a heater for separating ice pieces from the ice tray 5 is not
required. Therefore, a manufacturing cost of the ice making device
1 is not increased. In addition, since the surface of an ice piece
is not melted by a heater, water is restrained from being stored in
the ice storage part 2.
[0075] Further, in this embodiment, the ice making member 6 and the
ice tray 5 are separated from each other in the upper and lower
direction to separate the ice making member 6 from ice pieces and
then, the ice tray 5 is deformed while reversed or turned over at
the under position of the ice making member 6. Therefore, the size
of the ice making device 1 can be restrained from increasing in the
horizontal direction.
[0076] In addition, in this embodiment, when the rotation shaft 72
is rotationally driven to turn the turning arms 73 and 74, the ice
tray 5 is twisted while being turned over downward. Therefore,
since ice pieces are separated from the ice tray 5 and dropped into
the ice storage part 2 or other arrangement or dispenser with a
simple structure, a manufacturing cost of the ice making device 1
is not increased.
[0077] Further, in this embodiment, in the reversing operation
where the ice tray 5 is reversed or turned over, the ice tray 5 is
reversed from an upward state where the upper face opening 51a is
located in a horizontal state at an upper position with respect to
the bottom of the ice tray 5 to a downward state where the bottom
of the ice tray 5 (lower ends of the bottom parts 52b of the ice
making cells 52) is located on an upper position with respect to
the upper face opening 51a. Further, in the deforming operation
where the ice tray 5 is deformed, the ice tray 5 is deformed during
a time after the upper face opening 51a of the ice tray 5 is
reached to a vertical state to the downward state in the reversing
operation. As a comparison example, for example, when the ice tray
5 is deformed before the upper face opening 51a of the ice tray 5
is reached to a vertical state in the reversing operation, ice
pieces may be dropped to an obliquely front side from the ice tray
5 and collide with the device case 4 to cause to be cracked or to
occur a collision noise. However, according to this embodiment,
since ice pieces are dropped downward, cracking of the ice piece
and occurrence of the collision noise are avoided.
[0078] In addition, according to this embodiment, the inner
peripheral face of each of the ice making cells 52 is formed with
the groove 52c which is extended in a direction intersecting with
both of the widthwise direction of the ice making unit and the
front and rear direction of the ice making unit and thus, when the
ice tray 5 is twisted, the ice making cell 52 is easily widened and
an ice piece is easily separated from the ice tray 5. Therefore,
ice pieces are surely dropped from the ice tray 5.
[0079] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention,
the ice making cell 52 may be formed in a rectangular shape. Also
in this case, when the groove 52c is formed on the inner peripheral
face of each of the ice making cells 52, an ice piece is easily
separated from the ice tray 5 when the ice tray 5 is twisted.
Further, in the embodiment described above, the ice tray 5 is moved
downward in order that the ice making member 6 is drawn out from
ice pieces but the ice making member 6 may be moved upward.
Second Embodiment
[0080] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an ice making unit of
an ice making device in accordance with a second embodiment of the
present invention which is viewed from obliquely above. FIG. 7 is
an exploded perspective view showing the ice making unit in FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the ice tray unit. The ice
making device 1A in the second embodiment is provided with a
structure corresponding to the above-mentioned ice making device 1
and thus the same reference signs are used for corresponding
portions and their descriptions are omitted.
[0081] In an ice making unit 3A of the ice making device 1A in the
second embodiment, the ice tray 5 is structured as a part of an ice
tray unit 8. The right and left guide grooves 46 and 47 which
structure the ice tray moving mechanism 7 are provided when viewed
in the widthwise direction of the ice making unit so that the
entire guide grooves 46 and 47 including the curved guide groove
portions 46b and 47b are overlapped with each other at the same
position.
[0082] Further, the ice making device 1A in this embodiment is
provided with a pushing member 9 which is pressed against a bottom
part 52b of the ice tray 5 so that the ice tray 5 is deformed. The
ice tray moving mechanism 7 makes the ice tray 5 press against the
pushing member 9 to deform while the ice tray 5 is reversed during
a time when the ice tray 5 is moved from a separated position 5B to
a separated position 5C. In other words, the ice tray moving
mechanism 7 performs a reversing operation where the ice tray 5 is
reversed from an upward state to a downward state and a deforming
operation where the ice tray 5 is pressed against the pushing
member 9 to be deformed in a parallel manner during a time when the
ice tray 5 is moved from the first separated position 5B to the
second separated position 5C. As a result, ice pieces in the ice
tray 5 are dropped to the ice storage part 2. In the reversing
operation, the ice tray 5 of the ice tray unit is reversed or
turned over from an upward state where the upper face opening 51a
is located at an upper position in a horizontal state with respect
to the bottom of the ice tray 5 to a downward state where the
bottom of the ice tray 5 is located at an upper position with
respect to the upper face opening 51a. In the deforming operation,
the ice tray 5 is pressed against the pushing member 9 to be
deformed in the middle of the reversing operation after the upper
face opening 51a of the ice tray 5 is reached to a vertical state
until the ice tray 5 is reached to a downward state.
[0083] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the ice tray unit 8 is provided
with an ice tray 5 which is made of silicone rubber so as to be
elastically deformable and an upper side support frame 81 and a
lower side support frame 82 which sandwich the ice tray 5 from an
upper and a lower directions. The upper side support frame 81 and
the lower side support frame 82 prevent the ice tray 5 from being
deformed by weight of water for ice making when water is stored
within the ice tray 5.
[0084] The ice tray 5 is formed in a rectangular shape whose
widthwise direction of the ice making unit is longer when viewed
from an upper side. A recessed part 51 is formed in its center
portion. A lower side portion of the recessed part 51 is formed
with eight ice making cells (storing part) 52 in which a
predetermined amount of water can be stored. Eight ice making cells
52 are formed in two rows along the widthwise direction of the ice
making unit and in four rows along the front and rear direction of
the ice making unit. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, each of the ice
making cells 52 is provided with a body part 52a in a tube-like
shape and a hemispheric bottom part 52b which is bulged to an under
side from the lower side of the body part 52a. An inner peripheral
face of each of the ice making cells 52 is formed with a groove 52c
which is extended in a direction intersecting with both of the
widthwise direction and the front and rear direction of the ice
making unit when viewed from the upper side.
[0085] In this embodiment, also in the ice making device 1A, since
water in the ice tray 5 is cooled and frozen by the ice making
member 6 which is inserted into the ice tray 5, the ice tray 5 is
not required to be formed of material having a high coefficient of
thermal conductivity and thus a high degree of freedom in selecting
material is attained. Therefore, for example, in a case that the
ice tray 5 is formed of fluororubber or the like, when the ice tray
5 is deformed, ice pieces are easily separated from the ice tray
5.
[0086] The upper side support frame 81 is provided with right and
left side plate portions 83 and 84, which cover both sides in the
longitudinal direction of the ice tray 5, and an upper side
rectangular frame portion 85 which is stretched over upper end
edges of the right and left side plate portions 83 and 84. The
upper side rectangular frame portion 85 is attached with three
upper side support plates 86 which are extended in the front and
rear direction of the ice making unit with a predetermined interval
in the widthwise direction of the ice making unit. Each of the
upper side support plates 86 is provided in its center portion with
a protruded part 86a which is inserted into the recessed part 51 of
the ice tray 5. A lower end of the protruded part 86a is abutted
with a portion between two ice making cells 52 within the recessed
part 51. The side plate portion 83 on the left side is attached
with the left side drive pin 53 and the left side guide pin 55, and
the side plate portion 84 on the right side is attached with the
right side drive pin 54 and the right side guide pin 56. The right
and left drive pins 53 and 54 and the right and left guide pins 55
and 56 are protruded from a center portion in the short side
direction of the ice tray unit 8, in other words, protruded to
outer sides from portions of the right and left side plate portions
83 and 84 which face portions between two rows of the ice making
cells 52 extended in the widthwise direction of the ice making unit
of the ice tray 5. The right and left drive pins 53 and 54 and the
right and left guide pins 55 and 56 structure parts of the ice tray
moving mechanism 7.
[0087] The lower side support frame 82 is provided with a lower
side rectangular frame portion 87 which is abutted with an under
face of the upper side rectangular frame portion 85. The lower side
rectangular frame portion 87 is attached with three lower side
support plates 88 in the widthwise direction of the ice making unit
with a predetermined interval. Each of the lower side support
plates 88 is provided with front and rear longitudinal plate
portions 88a, which are extended in the upper and lower direction
on both sides in the front and rear direction of the ice making
unit of the ice tray 5, and a lateral plate portion 88b which is
extended over the lower ends of the longitudinal plate portions
88a. The lateral plate portion 88b of each of the lower side
support plates 88 is abutted with a portion between the bottom
parts 52b of the ice making cells 52 which are juxtaposed in the
widthwise direction of the ice making unit.
[0088] As shown in FIG. 7, the pushing member 9 is provided with a
rectangular flat plate part 91 which is longer in the widthwise
direction of the ice making unit and disposed on the rear side of
the ice tray unit 8. A rectangular face of the flat plate part 91
is directed to the front and rear direction of the ice making unit
and disposed in parallel with an extending direction of the right
and left straight shaped guide groove portions 46a and 47a of the
right and left guide grooves 46 and 47 of the device case 4. Four
ribs 92 extending in the upper and lower direction are formed on
the front face of the flat plate part 91. A rear face of the flat
plate part 91 is formed with a tube part 93 extending in the
widthwise direction of the ice making unit at its center portion in
the upper and lower direction.
[0089] Four ribs 92 are provided in the widthwise direction of the
ice making unit with a predetermined interval. Each rib 92 is
provided with protruding portions 92a which are respectively
protruded like a crest on its upper portion and its lower portion.
These protruding portions 92a are respectively pressed by the
bottom parts 52b of the respective ice making cells 52 of the ice
tray 5 as described below. The rotation shaft 72 is inserted into
the tube part 93 and the pushing member 9 is rotatably supported
around the rotation shaft 72. In other words, the pushing member 9
is rotatably supported around a turning center axial line (rotation
shaft 72) which is parallel to the center axial line of the left
side drive pin 53 and the right side drive pin 54 of the ice tray
5.
[0090] In this embodiment, a distance between the rotation shaft
72, which is the turning center axial line of the pushing member 9,
and the ice tray 5 is always set to be shorter than a dimension
from the rotation shaft 72 to the upper end or the lower end of the
flat plate part 91 of the pushing member 9 regardless of a moving
position of the ice tray 5. As a result, when the pushing member 9
is turned, a part of the pushing member 9 is abutted with the ice
tray 5 or the ice tray unit 8 and its turning range is restricted.
Therefore, even when a restriction member for restricting a turning
of the pushing member 9 is not provided separately, the pushing
member 9 is prevented from being turned to a position where the
face of the flat plate part 91 on which the ribs 92 are formed is
directed to the rear side of the device.
[0091] FIGS. 9(a) through 9(e) are explanatory views showing an ice
storing operation where ice pieces are to be stored in the ice
storage part from the ice tray. In FIGS. 9(a) through 9(e), the ice
tray 5, the turning arm 74 and the pushing member 9 are shown by
the solid line so that movements of the ice tray, the turning arm
and the pushing member are easily understood.
[0092] Also in the ice making device 1A in this embodiment, an ice
making operation of the step "ST1" through the step "ST5" shown in
FIG. 4 is performed. However, in the step "ST5" (ice piece
separation step and ice piece storage step) in this embodiment,
while the ice tray 5 is moved along the curved guide groove
portions 46b and 47b, the ice tray 5 is reversed and pressed
against the pushing member 9.
[0093] More specifically, the ice tray 5 is moved from the
insertion position 5A shown in FIG. 9(a) to the first separated
position 5B shown in FIG. 9(b) through the operation of the step
"ST1" through the step "ST4". At the first separated position 5B,
the right and left guide pins 55 and 56 of the ice tray unit 8 are
located at lower ends of the straight shaped guide groove portions
46a and 47a of the right and left guide grooves 46 and 47.
[0094] In the step "ST5", when the turning arms 73 and 74 are
further turned in the counterclockwise direction, the right and
left guide pins 55 and 56 are moved along the curved guide groove
portions 46b and 47b of the right and left guide grooves 46 and 47.
As a result, the ice tray 5 is turned around the right and left
drive pins 53 and 54 and, as shown in FIG. 9(c), the upper face
opening 51a of the ice tray 5 is inclined toward the front side and
then, the upper face opening 51a is reached to a vertical
state.
[0095] Further, when the turning arms 73 and 74 are further turned,
as shown in FIG. 9(d), the right and left drive pins 53 and 54 are
also slid on the curved guide groove portions 46b and 47b of the
right and left guide grooves 46 and 47 and then, the ice tray 5 is
reached to a state where the upper face opening 51a is directed to
the underside. Simultaneously, the ice tray 5 is moved to the rear
side to approach the pushing member 9 and the bottom parts 52b are
abutted with the protruding portions 92a of the ribs 92 of the
pushing member 9.
[0096] After that, as shown in FIG. 5(e), during the ice tray 5 is
reached to the second separated position 5C, the bottom parts 52b
of the ice tray 5 are pressed against the pushing member 9 while
the pushing member 9 is turned around the rotation shaft 72 so as
to follow the turning-over operation of the ice tray 5. Therefore,
the bottom parts 52b of the ice tray 5 formed of material such as
silicone rubber or fluororubber which is elastically deformable are
dented and deformed by the pushing member 9 and thus ice pieces in
a fixing state to the ice tray 5 are separated from the ice tray 5
to be dropped into the ice storage part 2.
[0097] When the ice pieces of the ice tray 5 are stored in the ice
storage part 2, the rotation shaft 72 is turned in the clockwise
direction by the drive unit by a predetermined angular range. As a
result, the turning arms 73 and 74 are turned in the clockwise
direction by a predetermined angular range and the right and left
drive pins 53 and 54 and the right and left guide pins 55 and 56
are moved along the guide grooves 46 and 47 in the opposite
direction. Therefore, the ice tray 5 is separated from the pushing
member 9 and the bottom parts 52b having been deformed are returned
to their original shapes. Further, the ice tray 5 is returned to
the insertion position 5A. Further, the ice tray 5 makes the
pushing member 9 turn around the rotation shaft 72 so as to follow
the returning operation of the ice tray 5 until the ice tray 5 is
separated from the pushing member 9 and the pushing member 9 is
returned to its original attitude.
[0098] Also in this embodiment, when ice pieces formed in the ice
tray 5 are to be stored in the ice storage part 2, first, the ice
making member 6 is drawn out from the ice pieces and the ice pieces
are left in the ice tray 5 (step "ST4"). Therefore, the ice pieces
and the ice tray 5 may be allowed to be in a fixed state to each
other and thus water stored in the ice tray 5 is capable of being
completely frozen by the ice making member 6. As a result, the
shape of an ice piece is determined by a shape of an inner
peripheral face of the ice making cell 52 of the ice tray 5 and
thus ice pieces having a desired size and shape are manufactured.
Further, since the surface of a manufactured ice piece is not in
wet state, water is restrained from being stored in the ice storage
part 2. In addition, since water within the ice tray 5 is capable
of being completely frozen, an ice making operation by the ice
making member 6 can be simply managed on the basis of time or the
like. Further, ice pieces which are left in the ice tray 5 are
dropped to the ice storage part 2 by when the ice tray 5 is turned
over and deformed and thus a heater for separating ice pieces from
the ice tray 5 is not required. Therefore, a manufacturing cost of
the ice making device 1 is not increased. In addition, since the
surface of an ice piece is not melted by a heater, water is
restrained from being stored in the ice storage part 2.
[0099] Further, in this embodiment, the pushing member 9 is
turnably supported around the turning center axial line which is
parallel to the center axial line of the right and left drive pins
53 and 54 and, at the under position of the ice making member 6,
the ice tray 5 is pressed against the pushing member 9 to be
deformed while the pushing member 9 is turned so as to follow the
turning-over operation of the ice tray 5. Therefore, the size of
the ice making device 1A can be restrained from increasing in the
horizontal direction.
[0100] In addition, in this embodiment, in the reversing operation
where the ice tray 5 is reversed or turned over, the ice tray 5 is
reversed from an upward state where the upper face opening 51a is
located in a horizontal state at an upper position with respect to
the bottom of the ice tray 5 to a downward state where the bottom
of the ice tray 5 (lower ends of the bottom parts 52b of the ice
making cells 52) is located on an upper position with respect to
the upper face opening 51a. Further, in the deforming operation
where the ice tray 5 is deformed, the ice tray 5 is deformed when
the ice tray 5 is pressed against the pushing member 9 during a
time after the upper face opening 51a of the ice tray 5 is reached
to a vertical state to the downward state in the reversing
operation. As a comparison example, for example, when the ice tray
5 is deformed before the upper face opening 51a of the ice tray 5
is reached to a vertical state in the reversing operation, ice
pieces may be dropped to an obliquely front side from the ice tray
5 and collide with the device case 4 to be cracked or to occur a
collision noise. However, according to this embodiment, since ice
pieces are dropped downward, cracking of the ice piece and
occurrence of the collision noise are avoided.
[0101] Further, in this embodiment, the ice tray 5 is formed of
silicone rubber which is easily elastically deformed and the bottom
part 52b of the ice making cell 52 is formed to be relatively thin.
Therefore, when the ice tray 5 is pressed against the pushing
member 9, the ice tray 5 is easily deformed and ice pieces are
easily separated from the ice tray 5. As a result, ice pieces are
surely dropped from the ice tray 5.
[0102] In addition, according to this embodiment, the inner
peripheral face of each of the ice making cells 52 is formed with
the groove 52c which is extended in a direction intersecting with
both of the widthwise direction of the ice making unit and the
front and rear direction of the ice making unit and thus, when the
ice tray 5 is deformed, the ice making cell 52 is easily widened
and an ice piece is easily separated from the ice tray 5.
Therefore, ice pieces are surely dropped from the ice tray 5.
[0103] Further, according to this embodiment, when the rotation
shaft 72 is rotationally driven to turn the turning arms 73 and 74,
the ice tray 5 is deformed while being turned over downward.
Therefore, since ice pieces are separated from the ice tray 5 and
dropped into the ice storage part 2 with a simple structure, a
manufacturing cost of the ice making device 1A is restrained.
[0104] Also in this embodiment, the ice making cell 52 may be
formed in a rectangular shape. Also in this case, when a lower side
portion of each of the ice making cells 52 is formed to be thin,
the ice tray 5 is easily deformed. Further, when the groove 52c is
formed on the inner peripheral face of each of the ice making cells
52, an ice piece is easily separated from the ice tray 5 when the
ice tray 5 is deformed. Further, when the ice making member 6 is to
be drawn out from ice pieces, the ice making member 6 may be moved
upward.
Third Embodiment
[0105] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an ice making unit of
an ice making device in accordance with a third embodiment of the
present invention which is viewed from obliquely above. FIG. 11 is
an exploded perspective view showing the ice making unit in FIG.
10. The ice making device 1B in the third embodiment is provided
with a structure corresponding to the ice making devices 1 and 1A
in the first and the second embodiments and thus the same reference
signs are used for corresponding portions and their descriptions
are omitted.
[0106] As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, an ice making unit 3B of the
ice making device 1B in the third embodiment includes a device case
4', an ice tray unit 8' which is disposed at a center portion on an
inner side of the device case 4', an ice making member 6 for
freezing water stored in the ice tray 5 in a state that the ice
making member 6 is inserted into the ice tray 5 from an upper side,
an ice making member heating mechanism (not shown) for heating the
ice making member 6, and a pushing member 10 which is pressed
against the bottom parts 52b of the ice tray 5 for deforming the
ice tray 5. Further, the ice making unit 3B is provided with an ice
tray moving mechanism 7', which makes the ice tray 5 move from an
insertion position 5A where the ice making member 6 is inserted
toward a second separated position 5C where the bottom parts 52b of
the ice tray 5 are pressed against the pushing member 10 through a
first separated position 5B where the ice making member 6 is drawn
out from the ice tray 5, and an ice tray reversing mechanism 11 in
which the ice tray 5 that is disposed at the second separated
position 5C is reversed or turned over from an upward state to a
downward state by turning of the pushing member 10.
[0107] As shown in FIG. 11, the device case 4' is provided with
right and left side plates 41' and 42', which define right and left
ends in a widthwise direction of the ice making unit, and a front
plate 43' and a rear plate 44' which are stretched over front ends
and rear ends of the right and left side plates 41' and 42'. Top
plates 45' are stretched over front side portions and rear side
portions of upper ends of the right and left side plates 41' and
42' and a portion between the front and the rear top plates 45' is
formed as a top face opening 4a. An entire bottom face of the
device case 4' is formed in an under face opening 4b'.
[0108] Two pieces of right and left guide plates (first and second
side wall portions) 48 and 49 are stretched over the front plate
43' and the rear plate 44' in parallel with the right and left side
plates 41' and 42'. The guide plates 48 and 49 are respectively
provided with protruded plate portions 48a and 49a which are
protruded from the front and the rear top plates 45' upward in a
crest-like shape, and partitioning plate portions 48b and 49b which
partition the front side portion of the inside of the device case
4'. Center portions of the respective guide plates 48 and 49 in the
front and rear direction of the ice making unit are formed with
guide grooves 46' and 47' which are extended in the upper and lower
direction in a straight line shape from the protruded plate
portions 48a and 49a to the partitioning plate portions 48b and
49b. The left side guide groove 46' which is formed in the left
side guide plate 48 and the right side guide groove 47' which is
formed in the right side guide plate 49 are formed to overlap with
each other at the same position when viewed in the widthwise
direction of the ice making unit. The right and left guide grooves
46' and 47' structure a part of the ice tray moving mechanism
7'.
[0109] The ice tray unit 8' is provided with an ice tray 5 which is
made of silicone rubber that is capable of being easily elastically
deformed and an upper side support frame 81' and a lower side
support frame 82 which sandwich the ice tray 5 from an upper and a
lower directions. The upper side support frame 81' and the lower
side support frame 82 prevent the ice tray 5 from being deformed by
weight of water for ice making when water is stored within the ice
tray 5.
[0110] The ice tray 5 is formed in a rectangular shape whose
widthwise direction of the ice making unit is longer when viewed
from an upper side. A recessed part 51 is formed in its center
portion. A lower side portion of the recessed part 51 is formed
with eight ice making cells (storing part) 52 in which a
predetermined amount of water can be stored. Eight ice making cells
52 are formed in two rows along the widthwise direction of the ice
making unit and formed in four rows along the front and rear
direction of the ice making unit. Each of the ice making cells 52
is provided with a body part 52a formed in a tube-like shape and a
hemispheric bottom part 52b which is bulged to an under side from
the lower side of the body part 52a. As shown in FIG. 11, an inner
peripheral face of each of the ice making cells 52 is formed with a
first groove 52d in communication with an adjacent ice making cell
52 in the widthwise direction of the ice making unit, and a second
groove 52e in communication with an adjacent ice making cell 52 in
the front and rear direction of the ice making cell 52.
[0111] Also in the ice making device 1B in this embodiment, since
water within the ice tray 5 is cooled and frozen by the ice making
member 6 which is inserted into the ice tray 5, the ice tray 5 is
not required to be formed of material having a high coefficient of
thermal conductivity and thus a high degree of freedom in selecting
material is attained. Therefore, for example, in a case that the
ice tray 5 is formed of fluororubber or the like, when the ice tray
5 is deformed, ice pieces are easily separated from the ice tray
5.
[0112] The upper side support frame 81' is provided with right and
left side plate portions 83 and 84, which cover both sides in the
longitudinal direction of the ice tray 5, and an upper side
rectangular frame portion 85 which is stretched over upper end
edges of the right and left side plate portions 83 and 84. The
upper side rectangular frame portion 85 is attached with three
upper side support plates 86 which are extended in the front and
rear direction of the ice making unit with a predetermined interval
in the widthwise direction of the ice making unit. Each of the
upper side support plates 86 is provided in its center portion with
a protruded part 86a which is inserted into the recessed part 51 of
the ice tray 5. A lower end of the protruded part 86a is abutted
with a portion between two ice making cells 52 within the recessed
part 51. The side plate portion 83 on the left side is attached
with the left side drive pin 53 and the side plate portion 84 on
the right side is attached with the right side drive pin 54 on the
same axial line as the left side drive pin 53. The right and left
drive pins 53 and 54 are protruded from a center portion in the
short side direction of the ice tray unit 8, in other words, the
right and left drive pins 53 and 54 are protruded to outer sides
from portions of the right and left side plate portions 83 and 84
which face portions between two rows of the ice making cells 52
extended in the widthwise direction of the ice making unit of the
ice tray 5. The right and left drive pins 53 and 54 structure a
part of the ice tray moving mechanism 7.
[0113] The lower side support frame 82 is provided with a structure
similar to the lower side support frame 82 of the ice making unit 8
of the ice making device 1A. In other words, as shown in FIG. 8,
the lower side support frame 82 is provided with a lower side
rectangular frame portion 87 which is abutted with an under face of
the upper side rectangular frame portion 85. The lower side
rectangular frame portion 87 is attached with three lower side
support plates 88 in the widthwise direction of the ice making unit
with a predetermined interval. Each of the lower side support
plates 88 is provided with front and rear longitudinal plate
portions 88a, which are extended in the upper and lower direction
on both sides in the front and rear direction of the ice making
unit of the ice tray 5, and a lateral plate portion 88b which is
extended over the lower ends of the longitudinal plate portions
88a. The lateral plate portion 88b of each of the lower side
support plates 88 is abutted with a portion between the bottom
parts 52b of the ice making cells 52 which are juxtaposed in the
widthwise direction of the ice making unit.
[0114] The pushing member 10 is provided with right and left side
plate portions 101 and 102 formed in a fan-like shape and a pushing
member main body 103 which is stretched over lower edge portions in
a circular arc shape of the right and left side plate portions 101
and 102. An upper end face of the pushing member main body 103 is
formed to be a flat pushing face 103a to which the bottom parts 52b
of the ice tray 5 is pressed and its lower end face is formed to be
a circular arc face 103b which is protruded downward. The right and
left side plate portions 101 and 102 are provided with pushing
member drive pins 104 and 105 which are protruded to outer sides
from pivot portions of the fan shape.
[0115] The pushing member 10 is inserted into the inside of the
device case 4' from the lower side of the device case 4'. The left
side plate portion 101 is disposed between the left side plate 41'
of the device case 4' and the left side guide plate 48 and the
right side plate portion 102 is disposed between the right side
plate 42' of the device case 4' and the right side guide plate 49.
The pushing member 10 is turnably supported when the right and left
pushing member drive pins 104 and 105 are inserted into the right
and left circular opening parts 41a' and 42a' which are formed in
the right and left side plates 41' and 42' of the device case 4'.
The right and left circular opening parts 41a' and 42a' are
provided at positions overlapping with the lower end parts of the
right and left guide grooves 46' and 47' when viewed in the
widthwise direction of the ice making unit.
[0116] A driving force is transmitted to the left side pushing
member drive pin 104 from a drive source of a drive unit which is
disposed on the outside of the ice making unit 3. When a driving
force is transmitted, the pushing member 10 is turned in a
predetermined angular range with an axial line of the pushing
member drive pins 104 and 105 as a turning center.
[0117] The ice tray moving mechanism 7' is provided with the right
and left guide grooves 46' and 47', the right and left drive pins
53 and 54, and a slide mechanism 71' which makes the right and left
drive pins 53 and 54 move along the right and left guide grooves
46' and 47'. The slide mechanism 71' is provided with a turning
shaft 72, which is stretched between the right and left side plates
41' and 42' on a front side of the ice tray 5, and right and left
turning arms 73' and 74' which are attached to the turning shaft
72.
[0118] The turning shaft 72 is extended in parallel to the axial
line of the left side drive pin 53 and the right side drive pin 54
and turnably supported by when its both end portions are inserted
into a circular opening part (not shown) formed in the left side
plate 41' and a circular opening part 42b' formed in the right side
plate 42'. A driving force is transmitted to the turning shaft 72
from a drive source of the drive unit which is disposed on the
outside of the ice making unit 3.
[0119] The right and left turning arms 73' and 74' are attached to
the turning shaft 72 so as to sandwich the ice tray 5 from both
sides in the widthwise direction of the ice making unit. The left
side turning arm 73' and the right side turning arm 74' are
respectively extended in the front and rear direction of the ice
making unit. Front end portions of the left side turning arm 73'
and the right side turning arm 74' are fixed to the turning shaft
72 and their rear side portions are formed with slide grooves 73c'
and 74c'.
[0120] The left side drive pin 53 of the ice tray unit 8' is
slidably inserted into the left side guide groove 46' of the left
side guide plate 48 in a state that the left side drive pin 53 is
slidably inserted into the left side slide groove 73c' of the left
side turning arm 73'. The right side drive pin 54 of the ice tray 5
is slidably inserted into the right side guide groove 47' of the
right side guide plate 49 in a state that the right side drive pin
54 is slidably inserted into the right side slide groove 74c' of
the right side turning arm 74'. Further, the right and left drive
pins 53 and 54 are supported by the right and left turning arms 73'
and 74' in a turnably state around their center axial lines.
[0121] When the turning shaft 72 is turnably driven in a
predetermined angular range by the drive unit, the right and left
turning arms 73' and 74' are integrally turned in a predetermined
angular range with the turning shaft 72 as a center. With turning
of the right and left turning arms 73' and 74', the right and left
drive pins 53 and 54 are moved along the right and left guide
grooves 46' and 47' while sliding on the slide grooves 73c' and
74c'. As a result, the ice tray 5 is moved along the right and left
guide grooves 46' and 47'. In this embodiment, when the ice tray 5
is to be separated from the ice making member 6, the turning shaft
72 is turnably driven in the clockwise direction to turn the right
and left turning arms 73' and 74' in the clockwise direction in a
predetermined angular range.
[0122] In this embodiment, a dimension from the right and left
drive pins 53 and 54 of the ice tray 5 to the lower ends of the
bottom parts 52b is set to be longer than a dimension from the
lower end parts of the guide grooves 46' and 47' to the pushing
face 103a of the pushing member 10. Therefore, when the right and
left drive pins 53 and 54 are reached to the lower end parts of the
right and left guide grooves 46' and 47', the bottom parts 52b of
the ice tray 5 are pressed against the pushing face 103a of the
pushing member 10 and thus the bottom parts 52b of the ice tray 5
are deformed.
[0123] Further, when the right and left drive pins 53 and 54 are
reached to the lower end parts of the right and left guide grooves
46' and 47', the center axial lines of the right and left drive
pins 53 and 54 of the ice tray 5 and the center axial lines
(turning center axial line) of the pushing member drive pins 104
and 105 of the pushing member 10 are coincided with each other (see
FIG. 12(c)). Therefore, in this state, the drive unit turns the
pushing member drive pin 104 in a predetermined angular range, the
ice tray 5 pressed against the pushing member 10 is turned with the
right and left drive pins 53 and 54 as a center. In other words,
the ice tray reversing mechanism 11 for reversing the ice tray 5 is
structured by using the pushing member 10, the pushing member drive
pins 104 and 105 for turning the pushing member 10, the circular
opening parts 41a and 41b which turnably support the pushing member
10, and the like.
[0124] FIGS. 12(a) through 12(f) are explanatory views showing an
ice storing operation where ice pieces are to be stored in an ice
storage part from an ice tray. In FIGS. 12(a) through 12(f), the
ice tray 5, the turning arm 74 and the pushing member 10 are shown
by a solid line so that movement of the ice tray, the turning arm
and the pushing member are easily understood.
[0125] Also in the ice making device 1B in this embodiment, the ice
making operation of the step "ST1" through the step "ST5" shown in
FIG. 4 is performed. However, in the step "ST5" (ice piece
separation step and ice piece storage step), first, the ice tray 5
is deformed to separate ice pieces from the ice tray 5 and, after
that, the ice tray 5 is turned over downward to drop the ice pieces
into the ice storage part 2.
[0126] More specifically, the ice tray 5 is moved from the
insertion position 5A shown in FIG. 12(a) to the first separated
position 5B shown in FIG. 12(b) by the operation of the step "ST1"
through the step "ST4". In the step "ST5", when the turning arms
73' and 74' are further turned in the clockwise direction, the ice
tray 5 is moved down to the second separated position 5C where the
right and left drive pins 53 and 54 are reached to the lower end
parts of the right and left guide grooves 46' and 47'.
[0127] At the second separated position 5C, as shown in FIG. 12(c),
the bottom parts 52b of the ice tray 5 are pressed against the
pushing face 103a of the pushing member 10 and thus the bottom
parts 52b of the ice tray 5 are deformed in a dented state. As a
result, ice pieces are separated from the ice tray 5. Further, at
the second separated position 5C, the center axial line of the
right and left drive pins 53 and 54 of the ice tray 5 and the
center axial line of the pushing member drive pins 104 and 105 of
the pushing member 10 are coincided with each other. Therefore,
when the pushing member 10 is turned by the ice tray reversing
mechanism 11 in a predetermined angular range around the center
axial line of the pushing member drive pins 104 and 105, as shown
in FIG. 12(d) through FIG. 12(f), the ice tray 5 is turned around
the center axial line of the right and left drive pins 53 and 54
and the ice tray 5 is reached to a state where the upper face
opening 51a is directed downward. As a result, the ice pieces
within the ice tray 5 are dropped into the ice storage part 2.
[0128] When the ice pieces of the ice tray 5 are stored in the ice
storage part 2, the pushing member 10 is turned in a predetermined
angular range in the reverse direction and the ice tray 5 is
returned to a state where the upper face opening 51a is directed to
an upper side. After that, the turning shaft 72 is turned by the
drive unit in a predetermined angular range in the counterclockwise
direction and the turning arms 73' and 74' are turned in a
predetermined angular range in the counterclockwise direction. As a
result, the right and left drive pins 53 and 54 are moved upward
along the guide grooves 46' and 47' and thus the ice tray 5 is
separated from the pushing member 10 and the deformed bottom parts
52b are returned to their original shapes. After that, the ice tray
5 is returned to the insertion position 5A.
[0129] Also in this embodiment, when ice pieces having been formed
in the ice tray 5 are to be stored in the ice storage part 2,
first, the ice making member 6 is drawn out from the ice pieces and
the ice pieces are left in the ice tray 5 (step "ST4"). Therefore,
the ice pieces and the ice tray 5 may be allowed to be in a fixed
state and thus water stored in the ice tray 5 can be completely
frozen by the ice making member 6. As a result, the shape of an ice
piece is determined by a shape of an inner peripheral face of the
ice making cell 52 of the ice tray 5 and thus ice pieces having a
desired size and shape are manufactured. Further, since the surface
of a manufactured ice piece is not in wet state, water is
restrained from being stored in the ice storage part 2. In
addition, since water within the ice tray 5 is completely frozen,
an ice making operation by using the ice making member 6 can be
simply managed on the basis of time or the like. Further, ice
pieces which are manufactured within the ice tray 5 are dropped to
the ice storage part 2 by when the ice tray 5 is deformed and
turned over, a heater for separating ice pieces from the ice tray 5
is not required. Therefore, a manufacturing cost of the ice making
device 1 is restrained. In addition, since the surface of an ice
piece is not melted by a heater, water is restrained from being
stored in the ice storage part 2.
[0130] Further, in this embodiment, the pushing member 10 is
turnably supported and, at the directly under position of the ice
making member 6, the pushing member 10 and the ice tray 5 are
reversed or turned over to drop the ice pieces. In addition, the
pushing member 10 and the ice tray 5 are turned around the axial
line of the right and left drive pins 53 and 54 which are protruded
to the outer sides from the center portions in the short side
direction of the ice tray unit 8'. Therefore, the size of the ice
making device 1B can be restrained from increasing in the
horizontal direction.
[0131] Further, in this embodiment, the ice tray 5 is formed of
silicone rubber which is easily elastically deformed and the bottom
parts 52b of the ice making cells 52 are formed to be relatively
thin. Therefore, when the ice tray 5 is pressed against the pushing
member 9, the ice tray 5 is easily deformed and ice pieces are
easily separated from the ice tray 5. As a result, ice pieces are
surely dropped from the ice tray 5.
[0132] In addition, according to this embodiment, an inner
peripheral face of each of the body parts 52a of the ice making
cells 52 is formed with the first groove 52d and the second groove
52e with which each of the ice making cells 52 is made in
communication with adjacent ice making cells 52 in the widthwise
direction and the front and rear direction of the ice making unit.
Therefore, when the ice tray 5 is deformed, the ice making cell 52
is easily widened and an ice piece is easily separated from the ice
tray 5. Accordingly, ice pieces are surely dropped from the ice
tray 5.
[0133] Also in this embodiment, the ice making cell 52 may be
formed in a rectangular shape. Further, when the groove 52c is
formed on the inner peripheral face of each of the ice making cells
52, an ice piece is easily separated from the ice tray 5 when the
ice tray 5 is deformed. Further, when the ice making member 6 is to
be drawn out from ice pieces, the ice making member 6 may be moved
upward.
[0134] While the description above refers to particular embodiments
of the present invention, it will be understood that many
modifications may be made without departing from the spirit
thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such
modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the
present invention.
[0135] The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore to be
considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the
scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims,
rather than the foregoing description, and all changes which come
within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are
therefore intended to be embraced therein.
* * * * *